Professional dental care
Regular dental visits are an important part
of a child’s oral health prevention program.
The first dental visit should take place by
your baby’s first birthday. Your dentist
will examine his/her teeth, give you tips on
taking care of them and, if there are any
problems, attend to it early.
The earlier your child’s first visit to the
dentist, the better the chance of preventing
problems. Children who start visiting the
dentist at a young age will come to see
visits as routine and will not be
apprehensive during regular checkups.
Your child's first visit
Book your first appointment for your child
at about 12 months old, unless you notice
problems earlier. To make their first visit
a positive experience, set it for a time
when your child will be well rested and
relaxed. Treat the appointment as routine
and bring along a favourite toy or blanket.
The dentist will examine your child’s teeth
and discuss their diet, how to clean their
teeth properly and other factors that can
affect oral health. While the child may cry,
this is only a temporary upset. Fluoride may
be applied to their teeth.
The dentist will recommend the frequency of
your child’s visits, normally twice a year.
This allows the dentist to catch any
potential problems early. Early intervention
may prevent the problems from getting much
worse. Children, who are at increased risk
of tooth decay, have unusual growth
patterns, or who have poor oral hygiene may
need more frequent visits.
X-rays and your child
X-rays are generally not taken until your
child is old enough to understand how to
cooperate for this procedure. X-rays show
decay between teeth and also show if adult
teeth are coming in properly.
Under some circumstances, like an accident
involving the mouth, dental X-rays may be
done on children as young as a year old. The
x-rays are safe for your child. Dentists are
careful to limit the amount of radiation to
which children are exposed.
Tooth problems
Young children are more at risk for cavities
because the enamel or outer surface of baby
teeth is thinner than adult teeth. Tooth
decay can begin in children as young as one
year old.
Some adults think that because baby teeth
will eventually be replaced by adult teeth,
there is no need to have them checked or
fixed if there is a problem. However, early
childhood cavities may get progressively
worse, leading to pain and infection.
Without treatment, decay can spread deeper
into the tooth, causing pain and infection
and even damage to the underlying adult
tooth. The baby tooth or teeth may need to
be removed. Unfortunately, because of their
young age, children may require treatment
under sedation or general anesthesia at a
hospital.
There are further consequences for the next
generation of teeth if the baby tooth is
missing. As a result of the tooth loss, the
teeth next to it can move into the space,
blocking the adult tooth from coming in.
If you notice white or brown spots on your
child’s teeth, call your dentist for an
appointment right away. These spots could
indicate the start of a cavity.
If your child is past teething and complains
of a toothache or seems to be in pain when
eating or having their teeth brushed, you
should also see a dentist as soon as
possible.
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